Track hurdle



y 1 c. B. DESSELMAN TRACK HURDLE Filed June 21 1950 FIG. 1

INVENTOR.

CHARLES B. DESSELMAN ATTJ/WH FIG.

Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE TRACK HURDLE Application June 21, 1950, Serial No. 169,401

Claims. 1

This invention pertains to an improved construction for a hurdle for a running track. As used in modern sports, such hurdles are of two sizes, known generally as high hurdles and low hurdles. Heretoi'ore, they have been ordinarily constructed as individual units which must be set up in position on a track individually. At the end of a race, if the succeeding event is not a hurdle race, the hurdles must be removed from the track before the next event can be held. This necessitates handling each unit individually and consumes considerable time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple construction which may be handled in less time and by fewer men than has been required heretofore.

Generally stated, the invention comprises an elongated support in the form of a horizontal bar having at one end a leg which is supported in a ground socket at one side of the track. The bar may then be swung across the track like a gate, pivoting on the leg in the ground socket. When placed in position across the track, the outer end is supported by an adjustable leg by which the bar may be leveled. A series of hurdle frames is mounted on the bar and spaced so as to be positioned in different track lanes. These frames are mounted to rotate on the bar, being pivoted at a point intermediate their upright members. The pivot is so located that when one side of the frame is up, the height is that of a high hurdle and when the opposite side is up, its height is that of a low hurdle. A resilient detent is mounted in the frame for engagement with a socket on the bar, so that by engaging said detent in its socket the hurdle frame may be held in its upright position. A plurality of such detents, or a plurality of sockets, may be provided so that the frame may be set with either side up. Accordingly, the same frame may be adjusted to provide either a high hurdle or a low. The detent is releasable so when the hurdle is struck by a runner, the detent is released and the frame ca rotate on the bar.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front view of a hurdle construction embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail partly in section showing the manner of mounting the hurdle I frames on the bar;

Fig. 3 is a detail section of the mounting fitting taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side View of the fitting shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the adjustable foot of an intermediate support.

Referring now to the drawing, I designates a horizontal bar which may be an aluminum pipe. This bar has connected thereto, by any suitable means, such as an elbow 2, a vertical leg 3. As shown in Fig. 1 the leg 3 is arranged to be supported in a ground socket 4 which is usually a short section of pipe large enough to receive the leg 3 and set in concrete in the ground. The bar I thus forms a sort of gate which may be swung across the track or back to a position parallel to the track at one side thereof. An

adjustable leg, not shown, may be provided at.

and comprising horizontal rails 6 and l and vertical rails 8 and 9. These frames are mounted on the bar I by means of fittings Iil, one on each of the vertical members 8 and 9. Each fitting comprises a hub I I having a bore I2 fitted to the bar I so that it may rotate thereon. Extending radially from the hub II in opposite directions are.

shanks I3 and I4. The shank I4 has a lateral extension as shown in Fig. 2 in which a hole I5 is drilled or otherwiseformed to provide a passage.

extending down to the bore I2. In this passage is a ball I 6 which may be a steel ball such as used in ball bearings. A spring I! is arranged to hear at one end on the ball I6 and at the other end on a set screw I8 threaded into the passage i5 and by which the pressure of the spring I! may be adjusted. The ball I6 is arranged to be engageable in a socket on the bar I. may be in the form of a simple spherical or conical depression or it may be in the form of a groove I9 extending along the bar for a greater or less distance. Such a groove provides for a certain degree of lateral adjustment of the hurdle frame along the bar. Both the rails 6 and I and the vertical members 8 and 9 may be of tubular construction. In the illustrated embodiment, a rectangular tube is shown. The shanks I3 and I I are sized so as to fit within the tubes of the members 8 and 3. Thus, the upper and lower frame sections may be mounted on the fittings I 0 by slipping these shanks into the tubular members 8 and 9 and securing them by rivets 20, or otherwise.

In this way each hurdle frame is revolubly Such socket mounted on a bar I so that it may be positioned with the rail 6 uppermost as shown in Fig. 1, so as to provide a low hurdle, or with the rail 1 uppermost so as to provide a high hurdle. In either position, one or more of the detents 16 may be engaging in a corresponding socket is to retain the frame in that position. The successive frames may be separated from each other on the bar 1 by tubular spacers :21 mounted on the bar between the frames. :Also between certain successive frames extra supporting legs 22, similar to the end leg and also adjustable for height, may be provided to support the Weight of the bar I and the frames thereon at a'plurality of points along the bar. These extra legs, of course, are positioned between the tracklanes. Ordinarily, they are placed so that there are two hurdle frames between each pair of supporting legs.

It will be seen that this invention provides a simple and cheap cons'tructionfor a hurdle-of this type. The frames. being made of aluminum tubing are very light. The fittings ill may be aluminum castings so as not to add excessive weight'to the frames. Whenthe hurdle is to'be placed in position, or .removed from the track, it can be handled'by one man'liftingthe.swinging end of the'b'ar l and swinging it like a gate on the leg 3 as a pivot, either to aposition across the track or to a position along the side of the track. Thus, a whole set of hurdles canvbe removed from or placed on the track in a minimum of time, and by a single man. Each frame may be set for either high or low hurdles and when so set is releasably fixed in position so that when struck by a .runner it falls readily without dangerously obstructinghisprogress.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction,within th'e scope'of the appended claims, without departing 'from'the spirit of this invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole and improvements may be added while retaining some vor allzoftheadvantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hurdle for arunning'tra'ck comprising, a support. having a horizontal bar spanning a multilane track, said support having a leg pivotally mounted in a groundsoc'ket at one side of the track to .swing as a gate across the track, an adjustable leg'a't the swinging end of said 'support for leveling said bar, .hurdle frames revolubly mounted on said'bar in the track lanes, and releasable deterits on said frames engaging sockets on said bar to retain said frames in uprightposition until strucl -by.a runner.

2. A hurdle for a running track comprising,a support having ahorizontal bar spanninga multilane track, said support having a .legpivotally mountedina ground-socket-at one side of the trackto swing as a gateacross the-track, hurdle frames revolubly mounted on said bar in the track lanes, and an adjustable ground support for said bar between successive hurdle frames.

3. A hurdle for a running track comprising, a horizontal bar spanning a plurality of track lanes, a plurality of hurdle frames having horizontal and vertical members, said frames being collectively supported revolubly on said bar at intermediatepointsofsaid vertical' members such that when in uprightpositionea ch .frame provides a high hurdle and when in inverted position a low hurdle, releasable resilient detents on said frames en aging sockets on said bar to retain said frames inupright position, and a leg on one end of said bar rotatably mounted in a socket at the side of the trachwhereby said hurdle frames may be simultaneously removed from the track by swingingsald bar'onsaidleg as a pivot.

4. A 'hurdle for a running track comprising a horizontal bar spanning a-plurality of track lanes, a plurality of .hurdle frames .having horizontal and vertical .members, .said frames being col.- leotively supported revolubly .on said bar at intermediate' points of said verticalmembers such that when in upright position each frame provides a high hurdle and when in invertedposition a low-hurdle, releasable resilient detents on said frames engaging socketson said bar to retain said frames in upright position, a .leg on one end of said bar rotatably mounted in a socket at the side of the track, whereby said hurdle frames maybe simultaneously removedffrom the track by swinging said bar on said legasa pivot, and one or more supporting'legs secured to said bar positioned besideltracklanes and adjustable in' height to level said bar.

5. A hurdle for a running trackcomprising, a horizontal bar. spanningaplurality of track lanes and having a leg on one endlthereof rotatably mounted in a socket at the side of the track,

' a plurality of hurdle frames collectively supported revolubly on said bar,'and means releasably retaining said frames in upright position onsaidbar until struckbya runner.

References Cited'in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

